OSRobert Haba
Google prepares Face Active Illumination for Pixel phones in low light
Code in Android 17 reveals Google's Face Active Illumination, a setting designed to brighten Pixel screens for biometric unlock in the dark.
Browse all articles, news, and guides tagged with security on Droid Tools.
Code in Android 17 reveals Google's Face Active Illumination, a setting designed to brighten Pixel screens for biometric unlock in the dark.
Google Messages Enhanced Protection may replace the single spam toggle with three security options, including cloud link scans, per a new leak.
The Xiaomi October update brings 25 security patches to 15 devices in China and Europe, with wider global availability expected to follow.
Hirudo Android malware replaces legitimate banking apps with modified copies to bypass checks and steal credentials, according to ThreatFabric.
Google is introducing new Android scam protections, including Enhanced Protection in Messages, call-forwarding warnings, and screen-share privacy defenses.
Forgetting a PIN right after setting it is a common frustration, and a new teardown suggests Android could eventually offer a way around it without resorting to a factory reset: unlocking a forgotten phone using nothing but a Google account. What the teardown found Tipster AssembleDebug dug through the code of Android 17 QPR2 Beta
Cybersecurity researchers at Huntress have uncovered a campaign where hackers built a custom ChatGPT model to trick people into launching malware on their own PCs, turning one of OpenAI's own features against its users. The campaign starts on Google search. Anyone searching for “chatgpt” might click a sponsored ad at the top of the results
GrapheneOS has merged Secure Paste, a privacy feature first announced earlier this month that's designed to stop apps from reading clipboard contents copied by other apps. Why GrapheneOS built it The platform's developers note that the clipboard can hold sensitive information such as passwords, authentication codes, and private messages. Android already limits which apps can
Huawei has released its new high-performance Kirin 9050 Pro chipset, and details about the silicon's architecture are now available across CPU, GPU, NPU, modem, security, and cooling. CPU, GPU, and NPU upgrades The chip's LinxiCore CPU supports simultaneous multi-threading and delivers a 24% gain in peak single-core performance alongside a 52% gain in multi-core concurrent
A locked Android phone may not be as locked as it seems. A reported WhatsApp behavior suggests that someone with physical access to a locked Android device could potentially reach the phone's photo gallery while answering an incoming WhatsApp video call, though the issue doesn't appear to affect every handset, with results reportedly varying by
Android 17 network privacy is expanding with several protections aimed at keeping apps, carriers, and outside observers from learning more than they need to know about a user’s connections. In an Aug. 27 report, Stephen Schenck at Android Authority says Google’s latest changes include Encrypted Client Hello, tighter local-network access, default Certificate Transparency, and carrier-controlled
Samsung has extended the June 2026 Android security update beyond the Galaxy S26 lineup, with the patch now rolling out to the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy S25 Edge, and Galaxy Z Fold 7. The update weighs in at around 900MB and delivers 45 security fixes in total, with the rollout beginning in South Korea before
GrapheneOS has published a lengthy thread on X accusing Google and Apple of gradually making the internet and mobile apps more dependent on their own platforms, devices, and software ecosystems. The project argues that tools like Google's Play Integrity API and Apple's App Attest are being marketed as security features when, in practice, they make
Android 16 quietly shipped with a feature called Advanced Protection, and it's the closest thing Android has to a panic button for your privacy. Instead of digging through a maze of settings menus to harden your phone, you flip one switch — and Google activates its strongest security defenses all at once. Think of it
Since its launch, sideloading has been a crucial component of Android, giving it a great deal of flexibility as well as a feeling of freedom and openness. The community (quite understandably) panicked when Google announced it would make significant changes to sideloading. However, since Google has now demonstrated how its new sideloading flow on Android
On January 22, 2026, Xiaomi launched the HyperOS 3.1 beta, which included minor but significant UI and privacy improvements. Phones become smoother and speedier as a result. Additionally, the HyperOS 3.1 update uses AI to extend battery life. With improved app switching and adjustable settings, it improves the user interface. Additionally, it offers improved multitasking,
Two groups of researchers have found two new, distinct types of malware that function similarly and are embedded in a variety of programs that are accessible through different channels. Worst of all, the standard advice to “don't install apps from strange sites” is less helpful because some of them are even available on the Google
We recently reported about another type of banking Android malware that operates in the background and leverages accessibility settings to steal data, including passwords and bank credentials. More malware that allows remote attacks on Android devices and is freely disseminated among hackers as part of a subscription service has just been disclosed. More banking malware
The Security V12 generation of Xiaomi's standard Security app has finally been released with a significant update. The most recent build, V12.0.3-251114.1.1, is mostly concerned with modifications to the system infrastructure. However, as the new build offers a whole redesign of the Game Turbo interface and sophisticated system optimization logic, this would be quite intriguing
There may be hidden risks to billions of WhatsApp accounts. According to a recent analysis, there are major security flaws in the privacy of the communications that hackers might take advantage of. With merely their phone number, finding someone on WhatsApp is very simple for many users, and the frequency of searches appears to be
